Lehi the 1 Turbo centre

[StuBoot]

I mean we are not the only club paying a star who misses a few games.

In 24/25 Tom has suited up 30 games thus far. The below star players are

Ponga - 29 games
Cleary - 26
Walsh - 25
Latrell - 21
Moses - 14

Now I know we have some historical trauma there with Tom, and with him, he could go down tomorrow but he is not some crazy outlier of late

You can throw Pappy in there too, 30 games in the past three seasons

 

[Carl]

I mean we are not the only club paying a star who misses a few games.

In 24/25 Tom has suited up 30 games thus far. The below star players are

Ponga - 29 games
Cleary - 26
Walsh - 25
Latrell - 21
Moses - 14

Now I know we have some historical trauma there with Tom, and with him, he could go down tomorrow but he is not some crazy outlier of late

And papenhuyzen

Edit: should have read ahead

 

[Frogz]

NRL Career wise average games per season to end of 2024.

Pinga 14.7
Cleary 19.1
Walsh 18.5
Latrell 19
Moses 18.75
Paps 15.3
Tommy T 15.2

Tedesco 19.3
Gutho 17.6
Nico 18.1

 

[Cochrane]

The above is very interesting. Career avge games doesnt give the current or recent picture though.

Maybe another club would offer tom 1M. I just don't see it.

 

[Frogz]

The above is very interesting. Career avge games doesnt give the current or recent picture though.

Maybe another club would offer tom 1M. I just don't see it.

No you're right, they are only statistics and they can be taken many ways.

 

[manlyfan76]

How good was it to see Coates run into touch.

Need more of that effort from the GHOAT

 

[Phobia]

I think our best team, and the one we should ideally be running into the finals with:

1. Turbo
2. Saab (needs to rediscover some confidence)
3. Koula
4. Hoppa (he has what it takes)
5. Garrick
6. Brooks
7. DCE
8. Lodge
9. Simpkin / Croker
10. TKO
11. Olakau'atu
12. Burbo
13. Jake
14. Talau
15. Tevaga
16. Bully
17. Paseka

Paseka and Bullemor off the bench will bring absolute havoc. I think Paseka needs to be eased in after a long time off, so playing him off the bench is the go.

I'd like Croker in, if he can recover to be able to hit & tackle like he used to. If not, Simpkin. Tevaga & Simpkin are interchangeable, as Tevaga has been playing an in-between role in the 9, anyway.

I'd like Tom back at fullback. He's our best fullback. I think his issue is genuinely just confidence, and that has been building. The change should be made after our next loss.

 

[Scorpio]

At the moment, Lehi is more mobile and is better as the last line of defense... our right side also looks much more solid in defense as well.

At roving centre, Tom can still pop up on both sides of the field and play as a second fullback. He won the Wally Lewis Medal in 2021 doing exactly this.

Unless there is a really compelling reason otherwise, then I think we should stick with what is currently working.

 

[manlyfan76]

At the moment, Lehi is more mobile and is better as the last line of defense... our right side also looks much more solid in defense as well.

At roving centre, Tom can still pop up on both sides of the field and play as a second fullback. He won the Wally Lewis Medal in 2021 doing exactly this.

Unless there is a really compelling reason otherwise, then I think we should stick with what is currently working.

We are not winning the Grand Final.
So may as well bring Lehi along under Toms guidance.

And tom has been great at centre. Its like there is a load off his mind

 

[eaglebuzz]

The backline we have been playing for the past 3 weeks is our best backline right now. The results bear that out too.

Lehi is a fullback
Garrick is a winger
Turbo is an elite fullback OR an elite centre

 

[Lloyd]

At the moment, Lehi is more mobile and is better as the last line of defense... our right side also looks much more solid in defense as well.

At roving centre, Tom can still pop up on both sides of the field and play as a second fullback. He won the Wally Lewis Medal in 2021 doing exactly this.

Unless there is a really compelling reason otherwise, then I think we should stick with what is currently working.

Our side is much more dangerous with Tom at fullback. I understand the switch but time has come for Tom to be fb again. Lehi deserves a spot but isn’t Tom, let’s be honest.

 

[The Indian]

I was against moving Tom to centre but have been pleasantly surprised with how its gone. Tom wasn't bringing too much at fullback this year mostly and he seems a little fresher when he does get the ball as a centre now. Tom was pretty good defensively against the Storm and surely they'll stick with this new formation for a while now given its been a positive. He's still looking slightly heavy legged at times though.

If there's signs that Tom is anywhere near the Tom of old at any stage in future I'm happy to switch back but until he gets that old zip back ( if he does ) then this formation is working well.

 

[stoodamire]

Here lies the problem.

I want Tom playing FB
I want Reubs playing left wing
I don’t want Lehi playing right centre

 

[madmax]

See how he goes against the Dogs…..Tom reverting to FB would be a huge boost. Talau to Center with Koula, Garrick & Saab on the wing. Hoppa to 14……maybe?

 

[eaglebuzz]

See how he goes against the Dogs…..Tom reverting to FB would be a huge boost. Talau to Center with Koula, Garrick & Saab on the wing. Hoppa to 14……maybe?

That weakens so many positions. It's a non-starter.

 

[XV-1]

That weakens so many positions. It's a non-starter.

I thought it was April 1st 😂

 

[Arko-admirer]

You can throw Pappy in there too, 30 games in the past three seasons

Good point

 

[broadbeachm]

Since Lehi hopoate became fullback our defence improved dramatically. He must be fullback long term. Super move by Coach Seibald although I think Anthony Johns gave him the idea